WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Sept. 4 CA-Longs-Reports
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Longs Drug Stores
Corporation (NYSE: LDG) today reported preliminary total retail drug store
sales for the 4-week and 30-week periods ended August 28, 2008.
Periods ended August 28, 2008
(Dollars in millions)Year
Month to Date
(4 weeks)(30 weeks)
Total retail drug store sales $364 $2,785
Increase from comparable prior year period 0.9% 1.6%
Same-store sales increase (decrease):
Pharmacy(1.3)% (0.2)%
Front-end (1.4)% (0.2)%
Total (1.4)% (0.2)%
Longs estimated that preliminary August pharmacy same-store sales were
unfavorably impacted by approximately 275 to 300 basis points as a result of
recent generic introductions being substituted for higher-priced brand name
drugs. In addition, a reduction in cold, flu, and allergy prescriptions,
primarily due to the impact of the switch of the prescription allergy medicine
Zyrtec to over-the-counter status, had an unfavorable impact of approximately
125 to 150 basis points on pharmacy same-store sales.
About the Company
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Longs Drug Stores Corporation
(NYSE: LDG) is one of the most recognized retail drug store chains on the West
Coast and in Hawaii. The Company operates 523 retail pharmacies and offers a
wide assortment of merchandise focusing on health, wellness, beauty and
convenience. Longs also provides pharmacy benefit management services and
Medicare beneficiary prescription drug plans through its wholly-owned
subsidiary, RxAmerica, LLC. Additional information about Longs and its
services is available at http://www.longs.com and more information about
RxAmerica is available at http://www.rxamerica.com.
Contact: 925-979-3979
SOURCE Longs Drug Stores Corporation
